MWE Presents: Glory Horizons (night 2)

MWE Presents: Glory Horizons (night 2) Sept 15, 2021 15:11:35 GMT -6

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Post by gvb on Sept 15, 2021 15:11:35 GMT -6

MWE Presents: Glory Horizons (night 2)
Live from XL Center in Hartford, CT
Tuesday, July 20th, 2021

Singles Match

Chris Sanderson VS Jada Hashford

The opening match up of Night Two saw Chris Sanderson squaring off with the imposing Jada Hashford, and the loyal fans were hot for Chris’ long awaited return to an MWE ring. He raised his hand as a thank you, but it was cut short as the powerful Greenville native stormed across the ring yelling at him. She swung wildly and was quickly ducked, Chris quickly spinning around and rolling her up with a schoolboy for a quick two count. The two quickly got to their feet, Jada once again going right in and was met with a quick forearm to the face which spun her around, leading to a backslide attempt for another two!

Chris was first to his feet after the kickout, but Jada rolled herself out of the ring to refocus. At the count of five, Chris left the ring to give chase, but the target on Jada’s back quickly faded as she turned to meet him, catching him with a quick toss into the ring apron. Wasting no time, she followed up with a brutal assault of punches and kicks, raining them down one after another, letting her frustrations run free.

At the referee's count of eight, she quickly rolled into the ring to break the count before resuming her assault on the returning superstar. With a quick snap suplex on the mat, she smirked at the hateful crowd. Jada dragged Chris to his feet and rolled him back into the ring, following quickly after and made the laziest pin attempt, earning a kickout after the two.

The Mississippi Queen pulled Chris up to his knees, only to quickly drop him back down with a Pump Kick. She dropped down on top of him, hooking the leg only for Chris to pop his shoulder up just in the nick of time. Jada stared a hole straight through the referee, who backed up holding up two fingers. The brief distraction lead to the down but never out Chris fighting his way back into it, landing some punches to the imposing Jada’s ribs and stomach, though a quick rebound off the ropes saw him eating a stiff boot to the face.

Wasting little time, Jada began raining down elbow after elbow, only stopping with the referee reaching a four count. She started yelling in the refs face, once again giving Chris a chance to get back into the match. She turned back into a series of punches capped off with a kick that sent her tumbling out of the ring. Her reprieve was brief however, as she turned around she was greeted with Chris flying over the top rope with a Viral View! He popped to his feet, the roaring of the crowd willing him forward.

With a bit of effort, he rolled Jada back into the ring, though he himself stayed on the ring apron and ascended the top rope. He went for the Purple Rain, only for Jada to just barely duck out of the way. Thinking she was safe, she leaned on the to catch her breath, but unbeknownst to her Chris rolled through and quickly came back with a Unlimited Finale to the back of her head. He quickly transitioned into a pin, getting the one...two…

The referee had to stop the count, Jada just barely managed to reach out and grab the rope. Chris laid rolled off and laid there for a moment, looking up at the lights before kipping up, bringing the crowd back to their feet. He took off toward the ropes but on the rebound was met with a crushing lariat, sending both competitors to the ground. The referee once again began their count, getting to nine before both competitors were able to get to their feet.

At first they traded blows, though Jada had the power advantage and quickly took control, even attempting to go for the Shut Out which the Miami dwelling, Boston native just barely managed to fight out of. He fought back with a few stiff kicks, landing on Jada’s legs and midsection, driving her to a knee. She pushed him away, only for him to land an even harder kick to the side of her head. She dropped to the mat, Chris circling around and hooked the leg, and eventually the head after a brief struggle. The Omega Finale was locked in! Jada fought hard, trying to get herself to the ropes, which only caused Chris to tighten his grip.

After a valiant struggle, Jada had little choice but to finally tap out. The crowd was on their feet as Chris had his hand raised, celebrating his return to MWE with a victory.

WINNER: Chris Sanderson
BY: Submission (Omega Finale), 10:06

Singles Match

Hearst VS West Long

The former MWE World Champion Hearst may have turned to a new leaf after his affiliation with the Guiding Light Church, but in the ring he was just as ruthless as he was in the Sandstorm Inc days. Possibly even more impressive now that he switched to a more methodical pace, slowly tearing apart the mountain of a man that was West Long. For the first couple of minutes Hearst looked like he was going to make quick work out of the Warwolf, maintaining control with his combination of hard strikes and holds. Long seemed to be struggling already, unable to land any strike on the veteran. And being trapped for so long in those headlocks and cravates was only growing his frustration. This definitely wasn’t the type of match he prepared for, his game plan to counter the brawling style Hearst had accustomed us to had been thrown out of the window by the former champ’s new attitude. The Warwolf’s raw power proved to be a very effective counter to the side headlock Hearst applied so tightly when Long lifted the Seven Headed Beast and dropped him on his neck with a belly to back suplex. Hearst picked himself up, but a running knee from the opponent knocked him back down. West was all over him now, the frustration he built up in those first minutes finally finding an outlet in those stiff punches he rained down on the face of the multi-time champion who tried to protect himself with his arms while shifting his body under that of his opponent to get that little leverage he needed to roll over and switch positions, finding himself on top of Long with a chance to return the courtesy. Rather than the flurry of punches West rained down on him earlier, Devin opted for three consecutive forearm strikes that rocked the Warwolf. Then Hearst stood up, looking down at the grounded opponent and jumped, stomping on his sternum with both feet. He could have made the cover and obtained a two count, but Hearst instead dragged Long to his feet and threw him against the ropes to catch him with a polish hammer on the rebound.

One thing West surely noted down from the tapes he watched and that no prayers to the Guiding Light Church could remedy was his long history of ribs injury, and the effects they, to this day, still had on the former leader of Sandstorm Inc. By targeting that part of Hearst’s body Long was able to turn the tides and score a near fall with his patented Boom Drop (one handed spinebuster). But what really left Hearst writhing in pain was the military press into a rib breaker. Too bad for West he couldn’t capitalize on it because the former champion quickly rolled under the ropes to find shelter outside the ring. West exited the ring as well and rolled him back in, adding to the pain with a few stomps and knee drops to the ribs before making another cover and obtaining another count of two. He couldn’t keep the momentum going, the hurting Hearst reached him with a headbutt to the bridge of the nose that staggered the Warwolf, leaving him open to the following running clothesline that turned him inside out. From that moment on, Hearst showed why he’s still considered one of the most dangerous men not only in MWE but in the business as well, He hit the Warwolf with a running pump kick, then unleashed on him his arsenal of power moves, not at all bothered by his size. Various powerbombs and suplexes quickly wore out Luna’s bodyguard who knew he was up to a huge task but surely wasn’t expecting to be manhandled like this. The impact of Hearst’s full nelson slam was so brutal that even the referee brought his hands to his head not hiding his concern before dropping down to make the count. And just like everyone else he looked shocked when Long kicked out in time. The end was only delayed, but Hearst prolonged the inevitable as much as he could, enjoying the punishment he was delivering. Then eventually showed off one more time his incredible strength with the Path Of Lions (emerald flowsion kai) securing another win on his path back to the top of Millennium.

WINNER: Hearst
BY: Pinfall (The Path Of Lions), 13:17

Backstage we find Summer Collins and Jessica Lasiewicz in their dressing room. They are both dressed to compete and both are facing stiff singles competition tonight in the form of Andrew Raynes for Summer and Matt Stone for Jessica. The two Fabulous ladies are both incredibly gifted singles athletes on top of being an incredible tag team, but ever since losing the MWE World Tag Team Championship they have been on a downward spiral.

Summer Collins
This is not Fabulous. We deserve better.

The Archangel shakes her head.

Jessica Lasiewicz
No, we really don’t.

Summer Collins
Are you crazy? Why the hell are you talking like that?!

Jessica Lasiewicz
To be perfectly frank, I probably am a little crazy. I did let my half-sister Kim talk me into being the new “unsanctioned” Lizard Champion so that she could get a break from defending it 24/7. And I actually agreed to that nonsense. So maybe I am crazy, but as far as what you said about us deserving better than what we got tonight? No, we really don’t. And you need to recognize that real quick and get your head out of the clouds and back into the game before we can ever be Fabulous again. Fact one, we LOST the MWE World Tag Team Championship. Fact two, we LOST the GCW Global Tag Team Championship. Fact three, I LOST to Lowri Moss and failed to capture the Cloud Gate Championship. Fact four, just where have you been on the cards lately?

Collins just shrugs her shoulders. Jessica nods her head.

Jessica Lasiewicz
Exactly. Fact five, Andrew Raynes may still be new to MWE but we know him from our time in GCW. He is a former Global Champion over there. He may be a man of hate with a piss poor personality but you better respect his skill, because quite frankly he has been looking a hell of a lot better than you right now. And fact six, Matt Stone has been looking better than me lately. Hell, he already beat my half-sister Kim, who herself is a singles champion here in MWE.

Summer Collins
So you wanna be a downer. I get it. What does any of this mean?

Jessica Lasiewicz
I’m not trying to be a downer, I’m just being a realist. As good as we are, and we both know how good we are, the world knows how good we are, but despite that, we are the underdogs tonight. We aren’t expected to do much tonight. So think about it like this, imagine if we do pull off the upsets, imagine if you beat Raynes and I beat Stone. Then how do you think we’ll look in the eyes of MWE Management after that?

Collins smirks.

Summer Collins
Absolutely FABULOUS!

Jessica Lasiewicz
Precisely.

Singles Match

Summer Collins VS Andrew Raynes

Andrew Raynes has no qualms about fighting dirty and neither does Summer Collins. In fact, the more fan favored Summer began with an eye poke followed up by rights, lefts, and a dropkick. Summer with a deep arm drag into an arm bar. Raynes fights his way up and breaks it with vicious elbows to Summer’s neck. Raynes with a lariat clothesline and then a dropkick. Raynes with body slam and a superkick that sends Summer to the outside. Raynes with a plancha over the top onto Summer. Summer lands a low blow on the outside while the referee isn’t looking and then sends Raynes face first into the steel ring post. Summer rolls him back into the ring where she drops him with a swinging neck breaker and then connects with a neck snapper. Summer locks in a seated rear chin lock. Raynes fights his way back up to his feet and then returns the dirty fighting with some of his own, first biting Summer’s fingers to break the grip, then raking her eyes. Raynes with Game Changer that floors Summer. He goes up top and connects with Rayne Drop. The cover and a two. Raynes goes for Code of the Sith but Summer avoids contact and then connects with The Money Clip, her variation of the stunner. Summer waits as Raynes gets up before applying a Million Dollar Dream. Raynes runs up the nearby corner and then falls backward into a cover on Summer...1...2...3NO! Summer breaks just barely in time!

Raynes nearly walks into The Stock Market Crash but he fights out of it and connects with Code of the Sith! Summer rolls to the outside to avoid being pinned. Andrew shakes his head, indicating she’s not getting away. The referee begins his count: 1...2...He goes out after her and whips her face first into the steel ring post...3...4... Andrew gives chase and Summer drop toe holds him onto the steel steps. Summer goes for a stomp on the steps but Andrew moves out of the way just in time!...7...8...Andrew charges and clotheslines Summer over the barricade and into the crowd….9...Andrew can sense the count but smirks devilishly, as if he doesn’t care about winning...he rushes the barricade and leaps over the top, crashing onto Summer and some fans...10! Both have been counted out but Summer seems to pop back up and starts exchanging rights and lefts with Andrew Raynes. The two competitors continue their brawl through the crowd even though both have already been counted out.

WINNER: //
BY: Double Count Out, 8:12

We cut backstage where we see Matt Stone shooing away a stagehand before walking back into the locker room, camera following him up to his business associate, Nicole Rossi, who’s filing her nails on a bench.

Matt Stone:
I’ve just received word that the little red-headed girl is too busy to interview me, can you believe that? Me! I’m the future star of this entire company and they can’t even get someone to make time for me. What is this world coming to?

Nicole looks up from her nails, one arched eyebrow raised, as she appears amused.

Nicole Rossi:
Oh no… should I start a hashtag trying to get her cancelled in your honor?

Matt Stone:
Yes, obviously, but there’s no time for that, now. We have to think of a new way to get our message across that some Fabulous Archangel straight from an X-Men comic isn’t going to stand in the way of my statement. I’ve been here for a year now and really, what have I accomplished?

Nicole Rossi:
Maybe you’re just not being loud enough?

Nicole’s eyes open wide before she begins to laugh, shaking her head, as if the thought was one that was absolutely hilarious in her mind.

Nicole Rossi:
No, that can’t be possible, you’ve got the biggest mouth around.

Matt just stares at her for a moment before shaking his head.

Matt Stone:
You’re quick with a joke but not actual advice, I’ve noticed. I thought the whole scam of me paying you was to provide me with useful benefits? Anyone can hurl insults at me, and many of them do. Say something helpful.

Nicole gets up from her chair as she holds out her nail file in Matt’s direction before giving both of her hands a big wave.

Nicole Rossi:
I’ll interview you.

Matt Stone:
You’ll do it? Is your first question going to be why am I so lucky to have someone like you managing my affairs?

Nicole Rossi:
Well not now it isn’t!

Nicole rolls her eyes before she clears her throat, smoothing down the front of her dress, clearly wanting to appear as professional as she can before she holds her nail file out towards Matt.

Nicole Rossi:
Matt Stone, you’ve been a part of the roster for a year now and have yet to truly make the impact you desire, is tonight the night all of that changes?

Matt looks down at the nail file she’s using as a microphone, then back to her, then back to the nail file. Sighing, he reluctantly begins answering the question.

Matt Stone:
I would like to think so. All I can control is what goes on inside the ring when I step in there with Jessica. Obviously I plan to win, like I’ve been doing leading up to tonight, and I’m hopeful that people take notice of it. I deserve better than what I’ve been getting Nicole and you of all people know that. I’ve got champion written all over me, and while yes my loss to Seth Iser a few months back was a setback, but champions aren’t perfect. They get back up when they’re knocked down and they knock the next person down twice as hard!

Nicole furrows her brow together for a moment.

Nicole Rossi:
Is that from a movie or something?

Matt shrugs at the question, looking at the camera.

Matt Stone:
I don’t think so, just sort of came from the top of my head, I like the sound of it, though!

Nicole also looks in the direction of the camera, blinking a few times, before she turns her head back over to look up towards Matt.

Nicole Rossi:
But you’ve said all that before, clearly you need a little something more to push you to that next level, are you sure you can even find it?

Matt eyes her for a second almost forgetting the camera was even there.

Matt Stone:
Something more? What else is there to say? I’m going to win my match because I’m the better wrestler. Should I say I’m going to kill her? Tear her head off like so many hyperbolic people do on Twitter? Oh I’ll make a bloody mess out there alright! Or perhaps I should do a song and dance to add some panache to my words? A real Les Miserable show stopping number to truly get my point across? Or I could do a rap! Tell me, what rhymes with Lasiewicz?

Nicole Rossi:
...I’m not even going to answer that.

Nicole clears her throat as she straightens up her shoulders slightly.

Nicole Rossi:
You’ve definitely got the spirit tonight, must have something to do with that beautiful blonde that’s usually at ringside with you.

Matt Stone:
Seeing how you didn’t phrase that in the form of a question I’ll just gloss over it and head straight to the main point.

Once again Matt looks at the camera.

Matt Stone:
I don’t care who has to watch this tonight, who I have to impress or who makes the final decisions around here. Everyone needs to pay attention tonight as I, on the biggest stage of the summer Millenium has to offer, walk out there and dominate. You can hate on me all you want, you can scoff at my claims and put your money on other people, I don’t care because at the end of the night, there’s one thing none of you can do. Shut me up!

Nicole quickly places one hand over his mouth as if to prove to him how easy it was to shut him up and Matt makes sure to push it away before the scene fades out.

Singles Match

Matt Stone VS Jessica Lasiewicz

Matt has been on a hot streak recently, quickly climbing up the ranks of MWE once again. Jessica instead was looking to bounce back from the loss suffered against Lowri Moss with a PPV win. She definitely started with the right foot as the two competitors locked up in a grapple trying to swing each other around. Matt had the size and strength advantage to quickly get the upper hand, but a sharp knee shot to the gut from the Archangel immediately changed the momentum. Jessica followed up by planting her right foot then leaning in to attempt a suplex, but Matt blocked it. Change of strategy for the former tag champion who hit a quick flurry of punches to the ribs and planted the man on his head with a ddt, making the cover and hooking the leg for a first pinning attempt, only worth a one count. Lasiewicz leaped up to her feet and went for an Irish whip, countered by the Abominable Showman who then waited for Jessica to come back with an attempted lariat. The woman ducked it to bounce off the ropes on the opposite side of the ring. She comes flying back at Stone with a running crossbody but couldn’t get past the two with it. When Matt tried to get up, he realized that Jessica had caught his leg and was looking to twist them for an early Four Card Trick, a move Matt had scouted and, with some struggle, managed to avoid, freeing his legs and kicking the Archangel away.

After a first part where Jessica was in control, Matt turned the tides, thanks to his manager’s distraction. He looked to limit Jessica’s speed by targeting her legs, perhaps wanting to “steal” her finishing maneuver and using it against her. A douche move, but that’s just Matt. He locked her in a sharpshooter, cockily posing and flexing to the camera as he sat down deep putting pressure on her lower back and legs. Jessica refused to tap, trying to get up to her feet and drag herself to the nearby ropes, almost reaching them before being pulled back to the middle of the ring by the Straight Shooter. Lasiewicz winced in pain but didn’t give up, pushing up on her arms and quickly crawling toward salvation, finally grabbing the bottom rope. Even now though, Matt refused to let go using the full five count to inflict more pain to the member of Fabulous. When he eventually had to release the hold to avoid a disqualification, he still had that cocky smile on his face, and that drew the ire of the fans. If you think the boos couldn’t get any higher, you only had to wait until Jessica tried to get up and he kicked her in the back, pushing her through the ropes and laughing as she hit the floor hard.

The Archangel’s speed and agility came in handy as the two battled outside, allowing her to avoid getting thrown against the steps with a leap. Before Matt could realize it, Jessica turned around and charged at him, using the steps as a platform to jump at him and catch him with a headscissors. The match eventually got back in the ring, where Jessica waited for Matt to rise to hit him with the Our Lady Peace, Lady Magdalena’s bicycle kick. Stone dodged it and countered with the Stone Cutter, but rather than pinning the woman, he picked her up and immediately went for his MLG 360 No Scope (elevated ace crusher). Once again Jessica kicked out, channeling the fans’ chant to fire herself up, producing her maximum effort to try to turn things around. And she did it, coming very close to the win with the Hot Shot (pedigree), but it wasn’t enough to secure the win. In the end, Matt did try to Be A Douche and steal the opponent’s finisher, but it wasn’t the Four Card Trick. He tried to plant Jessica on her face with her own Pure Deformation but Lasiewicz exploited the slightest hesitation to roll forward and pin Matt’s shoulders to the mat, obtaining a hard fought win.

WINNER: Jessica Lasiewicz
BY: Pinfall (Roll-Up), 12:18

The show switches to somewhere backstage at the XL Center, and the sight of the Cloud Gate Champion, Lowri Moss, draws a cheer from the fans that are present inside the venue. With her title draped over her left shoulder, Lowri is dressed in her ring attire and a replica British & Irish Lions rugby union jersey, and with a smile on her face, she starts by offering her usual greeting.

Lowri Moss:
What’s occurring, Hartford?

That of course elicits a cheap pop.

Lowri Moss:
You know, I came close to deciding not to make the trip to be here tonight. You see, about a week and a half ago, my opponent tonight, Faizah Marshall, tweeted that she was counting down the days until she becomes Cloud Gate Champion, and that all of my hard work has been leading up to passing the torch to her. “If that's the case,” I thought, “Then why bother wasting both my time and hers? I may as well just forfeit the match and arrange to have the championship belt transported to the arena by a courier”-- but then, on second thought, I decided that I would take my chances, and so I made the journey here anyway.

Lowri lets out a sigh.

Lowri Moss:
Seriously though, I know that this is a match that Faizah has been waiting somewhat impatiently for. It’s an opportunity she earned by becoming Gold Star Champion during her time in The Academy-- the only two-time Gold Star Champion, in fact, as well as the final holder, for now, of particular that belt. That gave her a guaranteed title shot, and she wasted little time in making her intentions clear: that she wanted a match with me, for this.

She taps the faceplate of the Cloud Gate title.

Lowri Moss:
Faizah has talked about how her fellow Academy graduate Faith Savell-- who herself still has a guaranteed title shot to take advantage of, something that I definitely have forgotten about-- believes that Faizah is shooting her load too early. Now I think Faizah’s argument in response to that is that she knows what she wants, and so why wait, which is something that I can appreciate - I appreciate her ambition, and her sense of purpose; if I had a guaranteed title shot, would I utilise it as soon as I could, like Faizah, or would I wait, like Faith?

She gives a shrug of her shoulders.

Lowri Moss:
I’m not sure, although I think that if I had my sights set on something, then I too would probably want to go after it as soon as possible, like Faizah. But who knows? Maybe next year I’ll win the Battle For The Briefcase tournament, and then I’ll have such a decision to make-- if I’m not still the Cloud Gate Champion by then.

Following a momentary pause, Lowri continues.

Lowri Moss:
On the night that she debuted on Millennium, I told Faizah-- and Faith, for that matter-- that if she wanted the best, then there was only one choice that she should make, only one champion that she should choose to face; from what she has said since though, it sounds like Faizah was never in any doubt as to who she wanted to face. Despite having only been part of Millennium for a matter of weeks, already she wants to try to assert herself as not just one of the best, but as the best on the roster, and so she knew that to do that there was, like I said, only one choice for her to make-- in fact, with Faizah's goal being what it is, I think I would’ve been a little bit offended if I hadn’t been the champion that she chose to face.

She tucks a stray strand of hair behind her right ear.

Lowri Moss:
And tonight, Faizah, after having counted down the days, after having dealt with the distractions that Elsa put in front of you, as you described your recent matches, tonight you’re going to get what you want-- well, partly. You’re going to get your one-on-one match with me: not just the best champion on Millennium, but one of the best wrestlers in the entire promotion. The match isn’t going to go the way that you want it to though.

Lowri shakes her head, as if to emphasise that claim.

Lowri Moss:
You may not be in The Academy any more, Faizah, but tonight is going to be another lesson for you. I know you’ve watched my matches-- and I’ve studied your matches as well, as part of my preparations for tonight-- but watching someone on tape and actually being inside a ring with them are two very different things. You don't fully know what you're going to get from an opponent until you step into the ring with them, and that’s something that I’m well accustomed to having to deal with; I know how to adapt and to make adjustments, attributes that have played no small part in the success that I’ve had so far in my career, in developing the reputation that I’ve built for myself, and in helping garner me all of the praise that I receive. And as I think I said to you before, that reputation of mine, you’re about to learn that it’s not unwarranted, and you’ll get to experience first-hand how it has been formed.

She places her right hand on her hip.

Lowri Moss:
Because you call yourself "The Best At Everything," Faizah, and while you might indeed be the best at some things, you certainly aren't the best at everything; you aren't the best striker--

Lowri has won multiple awards for that, and plans to win more.

Lowri Moss:
You aren't the best technician. And you aren't the best wrestler in this match-- well, better wrestler, to be grammatically correct.

There are only two of them in the match after all, not more.

Lowri Moss:
I'll give you the respect that you deserve, Faizah, for what you accomplished in The Academy, and for how you've performed so far since joining Millennium. No matter how good you are though, no matter how much potential you have, sometimes you’ll come up against an opponent who is just better than you, and for you, tonight is going to be one of those nights.

Lowri pauses to take a quick breath.

Lowri Moss:
I've reached the point now where the only people who have held this title longer than me are Melissa Reeves and Tiff Rollins-- the woman who I beat to become champion, and the woman who I beat in my previous match. And while I don’t have my sights set on surpassing Tiff’s record-- not yet, at least-- overtaking Melissa is now very much a target for me. To do that, I need to keep hold of the title until the start of October, but first and foremost, I need to beat Faizah here tonight-- and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

She finishes by uttering a three word motto in Welsh.

Lowri Moss:
Trên. Ymladd. Ennill.

She repeats the words, but this time in English.

Lowri Moss:
Train. Fight. Win.

Lowri then stares confidently at the camera, before it cuts away.

MWE Tag Team Championship Match

K2O © VS Mitchell Price & Jimmy Scrivens

Big opportunity for Mitchell and Scrivens who hyped each other up before the match started. The champions looked incredibly calm and confident, looking at the opponents across the ring and sharing a light chuckle. After all, they helped Jimmy and Mitchell win the number one contender match a few weeks ago at the expense of Team Trillie and the Glorious Golden Era because, in their eyes, the duo represented the minor threat. Though the opening moments of the match seemed to be proving them wrong, the two amateur wrestlers flaunted their background and chemistry, absolutely dominating the young man. Price linked together a series of arm drags and followed with a shining wizard before tagging Jimmy in. Scrivens dropped Olly down with three consecutive hip tosses and then hit him with a running knee to the back of the head, but the former Academy student kicked out in two. Karen on the outside kept cheering on her tag partner, not disdaining the opportunity to cheap shot Jimmy with a kick to the back after Olly sent him against the ropes with an irish whip. And while the referee warned her about her illegal actions, Olly kicked Scrivens between his legs. The low blow doubled the former All American over, setting him up from a piledriver from the son of the late Reese Kennedy who then hooked the leg for a cover. Price dove in and broke up the pin, sharing a few words with the referee telling him to keep an eye on K2O’s dirty tactics. Speaking of cheap shots, he got punched right on the nose by Olly who reached over the ref’s shoulders to hit Mitchell. Scrivens tried to take advantage of the distracted Olly with a quick roll up but Karen entered the ring to kick him in the back and make the save. A moment later she entered the ring again, this time legally after the tag and began kicking Scrivens on the chest as he was trying to get up. The last one of the sequence was a roundhouse kick to the side of the head that knocked down Jimmy. Always looking for ways to get under people’s skin, Karen made the cover by simply resting her foot on his chest, drawing the ire of the fans who didn’t appreciate the disrespect shown. Neither did Scrivens who, after kicking out, grabbed her by the ankle and pushed her leg back, causing the tag champion to fall on her face. Jimmy began running to his corner to make the tag but Olly intercepted him with a clothesline to the back. Once again the referee had to remind him that this kind of things could lead to a disqualification but he laughed it off, well aware that, in that case, they would retain their titles.

The champ’s plan was clear now, keeping Price on the sideline and focusing on Scrivens who, in their eyes, must have been the weak link of the team. But Jimmy stunned Karen with a jawbreaker and then planted her on her head with a brainbuster. That gave him the opening he needed to reach his partner and all of a sudden it became clear why they rather not have to deal with him. Price was an absolute suplex machine, throwing around both opponents like rag dolls. It didn’t matter if it was Olly or Karen, Mitchell had a suplex for whoever stepped in front of him, showing off his vast arsenal. Name one suplex variation and he most likely used it tonight in this great display of power and technique. But all good things must come to an end, and as often happens with K2O, it happened in controversial circumstances. Mitchell grabbed a dazed Karen by the waist for a German suplex, but the tag champion was quick to hang onto the referee’s arm, forcing Price to stop his motion. While the referee tried to break free, Eldon swung her leg backwards and kicked Mitchell in the crotch. At that point Olly was quick to spin Price around and put him on his shoulders, dropping him onto his knee connecting the move that gave them the title a few weeks ago. He made the cover to retain, but the referee told him that he wasn’t the legal man. Olly left the ring without questioning the decision, only slightly annoyed that he couldn’t get away with it. Karen wasted no time and made the cover, but Mitchell managed to kick out.

As the match drew toward conclusion, Olly and Karen gave further proof that , even without all those shenanigans, they make a formidable tag team. Their chemistry showed in those perfectly timed and executed tag team moves that allowed them to control the opponents’ comeback once Scrivens got back in the ring. They harnessed the energy the amateur wrestler brought in after the tag rather quickly, not giving him the chance to use his speed and strength to turn the tides. Olly ducked his discus clothesline attempt and dragged him onto his knee for a backbreaker, followed by a fist drop. The first Academy graduate to ever hold a title in MWE then whipped Scrivens in the corner and bombarded him with a flurry of punches and knee strikes before making the tag to Karen. The woman raised her leg and pressed the foot against Jimmy’s throat for an illegal choke that earned her a round of boos and another warning. Quick tag to Olly for a superplex and another pin attempt, interrupted by Mitchell who ran through Eldon to make the save. The champions obtained several more near falls in the following minutes, giving the impression they were just toying with the challengers. A last, desperate attempt to create the opening and make the tag was made by Jimmy with an enziguri kick, but Olly managed to recover in time to prevent Scrivens from reaching his partner. That served as a warning for K2O, who tried now to end things quickly before giving Scrivens another opportunity. Olly dragged him in the middle of the ring and planted him on his head with a ddt. He left the honor to get the decisive pinfall to his partner while he took care of Mitchell by recklessly launching himself through the ropes and spearing him onto the floor. Eldon finished Scrivens off with the Can I Speak To Your Manager (slap/running knee combination) securing a successful defense for her team.

WINNER: K2O (STILL MWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS)
BY: Pinfall (Can I Speak To Your Manager?), 14:17

The scene opens backstage. Faizah Marshall is standing confidently in front of the MWE banner hanging in the background.

Faizah Marshall:
Everywhere I go ignorant fans are asking me... Faizah, is this the biggest gamble you’ve ever taken in your life?

Faizah rolls her eyes.

Faizah Marshall:
My reply to that silly question would be... no. Come on, if you don’t want to be the best the business has ever seen, you shouldn’t be here. Go big or go home. I believe so much in myself I literally gave up the Gold Star Championship in The Academy to show the world I could win a championship without anyones assistance. That is how much faith I have in me to live up to my moniker of being the... BEST. AT. EVERY-THING.

Faizah smiles.

Faizah Marshall:
I would not have picked a fight with Lowri Moss if I didn’t believe I could beat her. Now I can feel a bunch of you rolling your eyes. Faizah, don’t you know Lowri’s track record, the people she has beaten, blah blah blah yada yada yada. Why should I feel intimidated by what she’s accomplished? Only losers are intimidated. I am inspired by Lowri. Hell, I’m a fan of Ms. Moss. Might not be cool to admit. Everyone is inspired by the legends that came before them. Studying tapes on Lowri. Watching everything she has done in her career. Records she has shattered. Being inspired by greatness makes you great. However, I can respect everything she has done AND want to show that I have the potential to be better than her at the same time.

Faizah nods her head.

Faizah Marshall:
Everything happens for a reason, there was a reason why I stopped the channel one day to tune into my first wrestling match. There is a reason why I came across an ad to join The Academy. There is a reason Lowri you came to MWE in the first place, were granted a Cloud Gate Championship straight out the gate. Destiny. All these events have come together for the sole purpose of you Lowri being the person I win the Cloud Gate Championship from. This moment was written in the stars. So when the bell rings, and I am announced the winner, it wasn’t because you had an off night. My arm being raised in victory was predestined. I am the best. At. Every-thing. Lowri, my time is now.

Faizah blows a kiss into the camera. She walks off with a smug look on her face as the scene fades to black.

Cloud Gate Championship Match

Lowri Moss © VS Faizah Marshall

Faizah Marshall didn’t waste much time to cash the title shot that was granted by her A Grade contract obtained after graduation, aiming straight for the top prize on the Green Brand, the Cloud Gate championship currently held by one of the best wrestlers in the world, Lowri Moss. Did she bite more than she can chew? Or are we going to witness what could be the upset of the year? The first minutes seemed to leave no doubts, Lowri outclassed the young opponent, having her on the ropes with her lethal striking combinations. Two minutes in and the Welsh had already put Marshall down twice, obtaining as many near falls and forcing the Original BAE to exit the ring and regroup. Lowri opted for staying in the ring, perfectly aware that Faizah would have to return inside the ring before the ref’s count reached ten. And when she did, the Cloud Gate champion was there waiting for her with another flurry of chops to the chest. She then sent Faizah against the ropes with an irish whip and caught her with a leg lariat, hooking the leg for another pin attempt and another count of two. With the vast majority of the fans rallying behind the champion, it wasn’t an easy environment for the Best At Everything to perform in. Add that to the experience gap between the two and you can see how Faizah was having the roughest night of her short career. Lowri wasn’t missing a beat, firing on all cylinders with the Scarlet Barrage in the corner. After the sequence of chops and forearms, Lowri attempted a superplex, hoisting Faizah on the top rope. Sitting on the turnbuckle, Marshall began fighting what seemed to be an inevitable fate, holding onto the top rope like her life depended on it. And, in a way, that seemed to be the case. Moss produced her maximum effort to win the young girl’s resistance but Faizah held on and reached her with a vicious headbutt that knocked the champion down. Next thing you know, she flew off the top rope for a diving elbow drop, obtaining her first near fall.

That count of two gave the challenger a boost of confidence and finally Faizah showed that set of skills that allowed her to become a two time Gold Star at the Academy. She kept it simple, not forcing any big move for the sake of it at risk of missing and leaving herself open to Lowri’s counters. But that simplicity was paying off, allowing her to control the pace and land a few strikes of her own as well as some high impact moves targeting the Welsh’ neck, including a running swinging neckbreaker from which Moss struggled to kick out. Marshall couldn’t believe how close she got, but she didn’t dwell on it too much, going back on the attack with a running knee strike. Lowri stepped out of the trajectory at the last second, clocking Faizah with a kick to the head as she turned around. She then moved behind the former Academy student and wrapped her arms around her waist looking for a German suplex, blocked by Marshall who then managed to swap position with the champion with a standing switch and connected one of her own.

Forget the early minutes where Faizah struggled to find her footing, perhaps feeling the pressure of the biggest match of her career. In the final moments, this contest turned out to be more evenly matched than it would have looked on paper. Faizah was holding her ground against a world class athlete, trading strikes with one of the best at it. Perhaps it was a lucky shot, but her forearm strike connected to the side of Lowri’s head and stunned her momentarily, causing her to stumble back. Once again Marshall charged to deliver a second knee strike, this time catching the champion and flooring her. Another cover from the challenger with the referee’s hand stopping inches before hitting the mat a third time after he spotted Moss’ foot on the rope. Faizah picked her up and tried with a suplex but Lowri slipped out of her grasp and landed behind the challenger’s back, hitting her with a jumping knee to the back of the head. Faizah stumbled forward and hit the ropes, bouncing back right into Lowri’s Severn Bridge (Tiger suplex transitioned into a double chickenwing). Faizah struggled and eventually broke free of the submission, but the champion immediately hit her with the question mark kick. It wasn’t enough to win the match but it surely was all downhill for the champ from this moment on. Faizah never quite recovered from that kick, looking loopy for the following two minutes, completely at Lowri’s mercy. And the inevitable end came when the Welsh hit her Breuddwydion Melus (superkick) putting an end to Faizah’s valiant effort.

WINNER: Lowri Moss (STILL CLOUD GATE CHAMPION)
BY: Pinfall (Breuddwydion Melus), 16:22

Singles Match

Tiff Rollins VS TBA

And so it came to the fatal night and Tiff Rollins still had no idea who she was going to face. And by the concerned look on her face you could tell she was questioning if they had an opponent for her at all. Despite Elsa’s assurances in fact, the former Cloud Gate champion still wasn’t convinced that this wasn’t all a bad joke, another humiliation to go through after those she suffered at the Academy and on her difficult return to the main roster. Those doubts were blown away as “Ludens” by Bring Me The Horizon blasted through the loudspeakers, Immediately recognizing the theme song, Tiff didn’t look too happy with who had been chosen as her opponent, and the expletives she let out were proof of that. The former Intercontinental champion Megan Monroe, who etched her name in the history book with the second longest single reign right behind Tiff’s one had a wide smile spreading across her lips instead. Her surprise comeback after the injury suffered in the cage scramble at Hic Sunt Leones got the desired effect to shock the audience and her opponent with whom she clearly had some score to settle. To add insult to injury, Megan was wearing a “Have a little Faith” shirt to support her friend Riley Savell’s little sister who beat Rollins at the last PPV in what many considered the upset of the night. She still had that shirt on as she started running down the ramp to slide under the bottom rope to bring the fight to her rival, using the momentum and surprise effect to overwhelm her. Laying on top of her, Megan unleashed a flurry of strikes to the head. Punches, forearms and even elbow strikes, one of which cut her over the eyebrow. When the referee finally managed to separate them, Monroe took off the shirt and threw it on the bleeding opponent’s face, as a further taunt.

The referee looked more concerned than Tiffany herself with her wound, and not without reason. The cut was pretty deep and the blood loss had already painted Tiff’s blond locks a dark shade of red. Rollins struggled a bit to convince him to ring the bell and start the match, but eventually she managed to. As soon as the match started, Megan exploded out of her corner and blasted the still dazed opponent with her Mega Kick, a devastating running single leg dropkick to the face. Could this be it? Could she really beat the woman she never managed to beat in under ten seconds? Not tonight, not so fast. Tiffany kicked out moments before the three, but that only pissed off Megan who mounted once again on top of her for another round of punches to the head and face. Tiff tried to defend herself, blocking most of those punches and finding an opening to hit Megan with one of her own, slipping from under her and rolling on the apron to regroup. Monroe was giving her no break, grabbing a handful of hair to drag her back in. But this time Tiff fought back, throwing some punches to the ribs that caused Megan to lose the grip. Then she returned the courtesy, grabbing the former IC champion by the hair and pulling her out on the apron, setting her up for a vicious DDT on the hardest part of the ring. Leaving the opponent laying on the outside, Tiffany hurried back in the ring, taking the chance to recover after the rough start. Blood was still trickling down her face, and she wiped some off her eye to restore full sight. The count went on, Megan finally started getting back to her feet and entered the ring at seven. The match could continue, and it was a slobber-knocker. Stiff kicks and sharp punches, the two young competitors weren’t holding anything back. The exchange fired up the fans who were, for the most part, behind the former Cloud Gate champion. Tiff seemed to grow more confident as they kept chanting her name, but Megan wasn’t letting this affect her. If anything, she used it as fuel to hit the opponent with even more strength and savagery, loving nothing more than shutting the hostile crowd up. The duel ended with no winners as both girls went for a bicycle kick at the same time, knocking each other down.

For two women who barely beat the count, only getting up at nine, they both had a surprising amount of energy left, fighting for ten more minutes in one of the most intense and hard hitting matches in the recent history of the company. Megan came close to the win with the Gamen-Girl Kick, Tiff answered with Andreas Lasiewicz’ Peacemaker (leaping high knee) that kept Megan down for two and nine-tenth. If it wasn't rare to see Monroe taking it to the sky with the Fly-Dell, Tiffany paying tribute to her adoptive mother with the Thrillkiller (swanton bomb) was not an everyday sight. And when that failed with Megan managing to get her foot on the bottom rope, you could see the desperation and discouragement surfacing on the young woman’s face. She tried to shake it off and finish the opponent off with the Death Kick, but something went wrong. A slight hesitation perhaps, or maybe Megan simply saw it coming and managed to duck it, but the superkick missed the target and Rollins found herself pinned to the mat with a simple schoolgirl pin. She kicked out in time and got back to her feet, but a codebreaker from Megan put her down. Monroe followed with some furious stomps, dragging the opponent up and firing her in the corner with an irish whip. Charging in, Megan hit her with a jumping knee strike, followed by a bulldog for another two count. As the Little Hoss picked herself up, she was met by a flurry of kicks from the long time rival that left her dazed and defenseless against Megan’s Rydell Driver that gave the Colorado born her first win against Rollins in two years.

WINNER: Megan Monroe
BY: Pinfall (Rydell Driver), 16:49

Steel Cage Match

Nine van der Hoek VS Leia LeBeau

The match that will, in Moretti’s mind, write the final chapter of this rivalry that has been dragging for months now, a shot at retribution for Leia against the woman who cost her the Junior Heavyweight championship. The Show started off very aggressively, using her long legs to hit the Dutch while keeping distance between them to avoid getting caught in one of those dangerous holds. Soon Nine found herself against the wall, and those kicks were still coming. She blocked a couple, but eventually Leia caught her on the side of the head and stunned her. LeBeau showed off her vicious side by grabbing the opponent’s head and smashing it against the cage, even grinding her face on the cold steel. With an elbow to the stomach van der Hoek interrupted Leia’s offense and gave her a taste of her own medicine by slamming her face into the wall. At least in these first minutes, the pupil of Alessio van Duren didn’t rely on her submission skills, opting for a strikes based offense, with the occasional use of the cage for extra damage. She even tied Leia with the ropes, blocking her arm and delivering hard kicks to the chest, each of those causing her to bump her head on the cage. Once she was satisfied with how much she wore out the former champion, she demanded that the door was opened and slowly walked toward it. LeBeau managed to free herself and blasted her with a clothesline from behind. The door was open and Leia was literally two steps away, but she didn’t want to win the match before taking her pound of flesh. She yelled at the referee to close it and as soon as he locked it up, she tossed Nine head first into it. Van der Hoek crawled to the near corner and picked herself up, Leia surprisingly let her do it. But she was just biding her time, catching the Dutch with a brutal roundhouse as soon as she turned around, sending her back into the turnbuckle. And there it was, the handstand foot choke that, this time, lasted way longer than the five seconds she was usually allowed to keep it. When she finally let the opponent go, The New Problem fell flat on her chest. Leia didn’t even try to pin her, relentlessly attacking Nine with stomps and kicks to the ribs.

The blind rage and thirst of revenge that was driving Leia gave Nine the opportunity to turn the tables, tripping the former champion with a drop toe hold and sending her head first into the middle turnbuckle. Nine then tried to put her to sleep with a rear naked choke, but Leia refused to tap, resisting for a long time until eventually managing to break free. Van der Hoek used another choke to wear out the opponent and try the climb, but Leia recovered quickly and reached her on top of the cage. The two battled it out at heights, using one hand to hang on the top edge of the cage and the other to try to knock the other down. Leia almost slipped, Nine tried to take advantage and climb the last few inches but LeBeau grabbed her foot and yanked her down. Nine used the other foot to kick her skull, trying to get her off her back, but the tenacious Jet City Girl hung on. And eventually managed to throw Nine all the way down, though she fell as well in the attempt. They both laid down for a while, Leia being the first to start crawling into a cover, but van der Hoek kicked out. With the last energy the two picked themselves up and began to fight again. Nine was able to plant Leia with her leaping reverse STO, but LeBeau raised her shoulder in time. The Frisian Demon then went back to her strongest suit, trying to put the opponent in her reverse figure four necklock called Old Honor. Leia was waiting for that, escaping it before Nine could lock it and trapping the Dutch in her own version of the figure four necklock, the Sin City Sleepover. Van der Hoek found a way out of it eventually, but fighting her way out of the submission left her short winded. Using the cage she picked herself up, turning around to a charging LeBeau. The Jet CIty Jive caught Nine right on the mush and knocked her back against the cage wall. After that brutal impact, there’s no way she could kick out.

WINNER: Leia LeBeau
BY: Pinfall (Jet City Jive), 14:11

The scene opens inside a locker room. Kyle Butler is sitting down on the floor, his legs loosely crossed and both feet resting below the opposite knee. He rests his hands on his knees. Looking straight into the camera he begins to talk.

Kyle Butler:
Hartfold, Connecticut....

In complete unison, Kyle and the crowd watching inside the arena can be heard saying ROLL TIDE BAY BAY.

Kyle Butler:
Woooooooo!

He says with a smile.

Kyle Butler:
Hasn’t it become cliche to say a night like this is the biggest night of my life? I know that’s not true. Marrying Jessica Lasiewicz trumps anything I have ever done professionally. Jessica becoming my wife is pretty damn cool if I do say so myself. Is this the biggest night of my life from a singles wrestler standpoint? Yeah. Fair assessment. So how does one walk into a match knowing he has to confront a guy that he couldn’t beat in a last man standing match? A man who has pretty much ran through all his opponents, like a train. Murder Train to be precise. How do I deal with a guy so confident he went out of his way to plan his victory celebration on Twitter...

Kyle shrugs.

Kyle Butler:
... by not allowing all that to get inside my head.

No secret. The past year or so I have been chasing singles success. It came easy for The Murder Train. From the ashes of Sandstorm Inc he survived. Not survived, thrived. Mowed down the competition. His Lockdown Championship reign has been impressive. Needing to keep him down for a five count? What the fudge? Seems impossible right? Probably.

I thought about what I am going to say. I could go the cliche route of giving you the usual any mountain can be conquered speech. I could sit here and tell you all these positive, rah rah, inspirational messages that get you all behind me. Shout a couple of affirmations here and there. Sounds like a motivational speaker. But I won’t do that. I won’t try to sell all of you fine people on a dream, dreams are just that. Dreams. Not reality. There is the distinct reality of me coming up short again, like I have many times in the past.

Kyle smirks.

Kyle Butler:
If there is one thing I learned from the Sandstorm Heavyweight tournament; I am pretty damn good. Glory wouldn’t associate with me if I wasn’t. Neil wouldn’t have tolerated me as his long time tag team partner if I was some slouch from Alabama. Sophie would not have taught me Scorched Earth Policy if she didn’t believe I was capable. And my good friend Bree Smith wouldn’t have become my friend if she didn’t think I was a cool dude. This isn’t about me. Never has. Never will be. This is about the sport I love. Honoring wrestling the best way I know how, without professional wrestling I would not have met my wife. My friends. My allies. I would not have gotten the chance to leave Alabama to travel all around the world. Heh, this might come across cliche anyway, damn it, everything I said is the ever loving truth. There was a time I was consumed by my own selfish ambitions. I allowed myself to bow to the pressure. I am free now bay bay. I am going to go out there, leave everything on the table with no freaking regrets whatsoever.

Kyle nods as the crowd gets more and more behind him.

Kyle Butler:
Murder Train, good luck bud. A couple months ago you made a believer outta me. Tonight, we’ll see if I make a believer outta you.

Kyle closes his eyes. He smiles as the scene fades to black.

Lockdown Championship Match
Dusty's Rule: Five Count

Kyle Butler was facing the biggest challenge of his career. Nobody has ever beaten Dusty Douglas in singles competition in MWE, nobody has ever been able to keep him down for three seconds, let alone five. But despite the odds being stacked against him, Butler was up for the task, rallying up the fans to feed on their energy. The bell sounded and the always confident Dustin offered Kyle the first strike. The Master Of The Roll Tide looked hesitant, sensing that Douglas was setting him up for something. But eventually he did, swinging his arm for a right hand right to the Murder Train’s jaw. Unsurprisingly, Dusty blocked the punch and twisted Kyle’’s arm. The former Tag Team champion tried to wiggle free but he was pulled into a lariat by the Big Nasty. Not wasting any time, the Lockdown champion grabbed the opponent by the throat with both hands and deadlifted Kyle to drive him violently down on the canvas with a chokebomb. Dusty took a run to the ropes and jumped on the laying Kyle with a running senton but Butler rolled out of the way, avoiding the unpleasant feeling of getting squashed by 290 pounds of muscles. Butler took a run at the ropes as well and delivered a dropkick to the side of Douglas’ head before the big man could get up, pushing him through the ropes and on the outside. Throwing caution out of the window, a big risk especially considering the high stakes of the match and the dangerous opponent he was facing, Kyle launches himself through the ropes and hit Dusty with a suicide dive with such force to push the big man back against the barricade. Making the best of the ten seconds he could spend on the outside, Kyle slammed Dustin’s head against the ring post a couple of times and then went to whip him against the steel steps. But the Lockdown champion countered the move and it was Butler who ended up crashing against the steps, hitting them first with his shoulder.

Douglas invested some time to try to take out Kyle’s arm by targeting that same shoulder by ramming it into the turnbuckle and delivering various shoulder breakers. As effective as this was, strategy had never been Dusty’s forte and he couldn’t stick with it, opting for his usual array of suplexes and throws, letting that shoulder rest and inflicting damage to the back and abdomen instead, especially after he launched Kyle in the air and let him fall on his chest. And when Butler picked himself up, he was ran over by the Murder Train with a massive spear, from which the Golden Era member Dustin was in control until he took too long before charging at the cornered opponent, and his running splash hit the empty turnbuckle. Kyle quickly attacked the big man with some shots to the kidneys before dropping him down with a neckbreaker. Knowing that it’ll take much more than that to keep the Big Nasty down, Kyle added a jumping knee drop and then another one, continuing for a total of five of those, hoping it’d be enough to keep the bg man down for five seconds. It only did so for two and half, and it was back to square one for the challenger. In an attempt to wear Dusty down, Butler applied a sleeper hold but his plan backfired as the Lockdown champion powered through it and backed down into the corner, squashing his opponent against the turnbuckle. Kyle lost his grip around the neck, and the now free Douglas readjusted his position and ran toward the center of the ring with a backpack stunner. Once again the champion made the cove, but Kyle kicked out in four, just like before.

To his credit, Kyle didn’t seem to know what “giving up” means, refusing to stay down no matter what Dusty was throwing at him. This resilience and refusal to give up against all odds and against better judgement didn’t seem to annoy or frustrate the champion. If anything, he saw it as a challenge and tuned up the intensity and force of his strikes. Butler’s fans became louder, understanding the difficult moment their favorite was going through. Their support really helped Kyle, giving him that boost he needed to block Dustin’s massive punch and hit the champion with a shot to the jaw. A weak one, barely felt by Dusty who threw a second punch, this one ducked by Butler and countered with an uppercut to the chin. Third time's a charm they say, but not tonight and not for Douglas who missed with the third hook as Kyle stepped backward, watching that massive fist inches away from his nose. But this risky evasion gave him the chance to hit the off-balance champion with a lariat. He put all the strength he had in it, but it wasn’t enough to knock Dusty off his feet. He tried it again, now with a little more running start but the outcome was just the same and it took him a third attempt to finally take the big man down. The thud of Dustin’s body hitting the floor was followed by a huge roar coming from the crowd, who then followed every punch Butler delivered to the grounded champion with a loud “YES”. That flurry of punches -could’ve been ten but who was really counting?- wasn’t enough to even get a three, but it did a lot for Kyle’s confidence. He kept attacking Douglas with striking combinations, not really the house specialty but he knew better than trying to ragdoll the Murder Train. At the end of a long sequence of kicks and elbows and knees, he had Douglas sufficiently stunned to attempt his Rooooooooooooooooooolllll TIDE… And it connected! The headlock driver dropped Dusty on his head, Kyle struggled a little to roll him over on his back and laid on top of him. The referee then started to count, echoed by the Hartford fans who screamed along with him. ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR! FI… No! Dusty kicked out! Kyle couldn’t believe it and you could see that this was a bad hit for the challenger. No longer as focused as he was before, he became more chaotic and sloppy in his offense, even making the mistake of trying to suplex the Big Nasty who blocked the attempt and countered it with a falcon arrow, getting a long three out of it. And just like that the tides had once again turned, The Murder Train started marching toward another successful defense, perhaps the hardest so far. The Hyper Beam (spinning back fist) almost took Kyle’s head off, but the challenger still had some fight left in him, enough to kick out right before the five. Douglas calmly picked him up and announced to the world that he was going to end him with the Giga Impact. Hard to tell if it was that brief hesitation or if Kyle was just waiting for the opportunity, but as soon as Dusty lifted him for his high angle rock bottom, Butler slipped out of it and landed behind the Big Nasty, wrapping his arms around him in another sleeper hold. Douglas tried to fight out of it, but this time not even hitting the corner worked to get Butler off his back. The challenger was hanging desperately, like his life depended on it. And while that was definitely an exaggeration, his hopes to win the match and the title depended solely on how long he could keep the opponent in that choke, and how much he could take out the big man with it. Almost a minute inside the sleeper hold almost killed whatever fight was left in Dusty, who seemed to be slowly fading away. Kyle wasn’t taking any risk at this point, keeping his arms wrapped around his head for a little longer before quickly switching into a headlock, connecting a second Rooooooooooooooooooolllll TIDE!! Combined with the choke applied earlier, this one did the trick. Kyle Butler did what no other man had been able to do, beating Dusty Douglas and taking his Lockdown Championship.

WINNER: Kyle Butler (NEW LOCKDOWN CHAMPION)
BY: Pinfall (Rooooooooooooooooooolllll TIDE!!), 19:38

SEASON TWO IS STARTING SOON!
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Academic Year starts on October 1st
TV Premiere: October 8th

MENTV Championship Match
Champion's Trial

Amy Maynard: “Make yourself comfortable, Figgles. We’re going to stay here for a while.”

Sir Figgles: “I think we should drug test Moretti. Either he was under the influence when he booked this match or his SDAT is progressing faster than I thought.”

Amy Maynard: “I take it you’re not a fan…”

Sir Figgles: “The day I will agree with something Moretty says or do is the day I'm going to quit my job.”

Amy Maynard: “I’ll hold you to that. Anyway, back to this match let’s remind the fans what the Champion’s Trial is. Two competitors will start the match, one of the is the current MENTV champion Siobhan Mahoney and the other, drawn by lot, is James Edwards. They will fight under the classic MENTV rules, the winner will then face Tiffany and whoever comes out on top from that will take on Alex Andrews. Should Siobhan fall before the final match of the trial, she will have a last opportunity against whoever wins the third match for, potentially, a total of four matches, an hour of wrestling.”

Sir Figgles: “Potentially one hour of James Edwards… What did I do wrong to deserve this?”

The fans instead were thrilled for this one. Never before the MENTV championship had reached this heights and position on the card, a testament to the great job the four wrestlers involved did to bring the spotòigths on the title and elevate it. As said by Amy, Siobhan and James started the Trial. The reigning and defending champion, aware of the size of the task in front of her and how physically demanding it may be, tried to end the first match quickly with several fast pinning combinations in the first minutes and half. But a veteran like James wasn’t caught off guard, kicking out of every attempt until Mahoney tried with a sunset flip. He put all his weight down on those strong legs and avoided getting rolled into a cover, jumping instead to drive both feet on Siobhan’s chest instead. He made the quick cover but the champion kicked out, quickly getting up to her feet, face to face with the Burning Heart. The intensity in that staredown matched that shown in the ring by the two wrestlers, who certainly weren’t holding back. Siobhan’s speed and agility helped her stay away from James’ tremendous strikes, but eventually he caught her off a springboard crossbody attempt with a dropkick. He then waited until Siobhan started picking herself up, Edwards charged at her in an attempt to kick her head into the crowd with his Violent Gospel. Mahoney luckily rolled out of the way avoiding the terrific kick and the highly probable concussion that was coming with it, rolling James up in another pinning predicament that came really close to the three.

Amy Maynard: “That was close… I think it’s a sound strategy, the one Siobhan is trying here. Get that win as fast as you can and save energy for the rest of the Trial.”

Sir Figgles: “Of course you’d say that. Are we not considering how consuming keeping up this pace actually is? If she keeps it up, she won’t even see the end of THIS match.”

Amy Maynard: “So what would your game plan be, if you were in her shoes?”

Sir Figgles: “Let the clock run down. Play hide & seek for fifteen minutes and then move on to the next round. Rinse, repeat. There’s no way Moretti will extend the time limit, not when we still have a main event that could go close for another hour. These fans have families they need to go back to!”

And the pace slowed down, but not because the champion was wasting time as Figgles suggested. The reason was that James was now in control, and he was controlling the tempo of the match, switching between static holds to wear down Siobhan and sudden acceleration when he threw some swift striking combinations that gave him a few near falls. At some point Mahoney was able to find an opening and strike him down with a superkick, but this only gave her a two count. One minute later, she dodged a right hand and drove her knee and drove her knee into the Burning Heart’s stomach, doubling him over so that she could easily plant him face first into the canvas with her Blamey Stoned (Sitout facebuster). Edwards barely saved himself this time, kicking out at the last possible moment. And when he got up, you could tell he really took the hit, looking dazed as he stumbled back into the corner. Siobhan jumped on his thigh and flipped him over with a monkey flip, immediately beginning to taunt him and invite him to stand up.

Amy Maynard: “She’s calling for her Shillelagh, James could be in big trouble…”

She delivered the spin kick, but Edwards ducked the leg and caught her up in an electric chair position, driving her all the way down straight into a pin, but somehow Siobhan managed to kick out. It was James' turn now to wait in the corner for the champion to get back to a vertical position. Unlike Siobhan before, he didn’t miss the spin kick, nor the roundhouse knee that followed to complete the Wildfire. Mahoney went down and James hooked the leg to become the new MENTV champion and advance to the next round of the Trial.

WINNER AND NEW MENTV CHAMPION: James Edwards

Amy Maynard: “He did it! We have a new champion!”

Sir Figgles: “Goodbye Siobhan, thanks for coming!”

Amy Maynard: “If you paid attention while I was explaining the rules, you’d know that she will be back to face whoever will be champion at the end of the trial. ”

Sir Figgles: “... Goddamnit Moretti!”

Amy Maynard: “Next up is Tiffany Lynn Page. And you can tell James Edwards has been looking forward to it.”

Sir Figgles: “There’s no love lost between them, remember Edwards’ brutal assault on Tiffany? I’m still surprised he didn’t get fired for that.”

Amy Maynard: “That might have been overkill but yeah, I remember calling the action that night, and I was shocked to see that side of James, as most of the fans were. We’ll see if he can keep that in check tonight, or if Tiffany is up for the longest fifteen minutes of her life.”

The answer was no. Edwards didn’t even let the former champion enter the ring, meeting her on the ramp with a running clothesline. For the following count of ten James just threw her from one side of the other of the entrance hallway, testing how resilient the barricades were. Before rolling her inside the ring, he powerbombed her on the apron just for the hell of it, and once he joined her inside, he didn’t go for the pin, looking to deliver more punishment with a series of hard stomps and kicks to the grounded Diva. Page rolled out of harm’s way and hit the floor outside once again. James didn’t want to give her any chance to recover and he chased her outside, forcing her to an inglorious retreat under the ring. Edwards would’ve followed her in the depths of hell tonight so disappearing under the ring curtain was a no-brainer. When he emerged a moment later, he was holding his face with both hands. Tiffany came out on the opposite side and quickly entered the ring, asking that James was counted out.

Amy Maynard: “ I wonder what illegal object she hit James with under there…”

Sir Figgles: “What happens under the ring, stays under the ring, Amy.”

The referee started the count, reminding the still dazed Tiffany that a win via count out won’t give her the title she’s been chasing ever since losing it. A couple of seconds later, she was flying through the ropes with a suicide dive, shoving James back on the floor. After a few stomps against the barricade and a choke attempt, Tiffany took the match back in the ring and quickly made a cover, leaning onto the middle rope with both feet for that extra leverage. The referee caught her and interrupted the count at two, taking a moment to reprimand the former champion. This gave James time to get up to his feet and surprise her with a released snap german suplex. Lynn Page quickly made it up to her feet only to be caught in a clinch by Edwards who then delivered her a vicious knee to the face.

Amy Maynard: “Ouch, that had to hurt… Look, he busted her nose!”

Sir Figgles: “That’s a shame, the plastic surgeon did such a stellar job…”

Tiffany began complaining with the official, asking him to stop the clock so that she could see a doctor for her injury. But that wasn’t an option, the countdown kept going signaling only five minutes left. James grabbed Page by the arm and pulled her closer, looking to connect a belly to belly suplex. An eye rake forced him to reconsider his plan, but before he could come up with a new strategy Tiffany sent him flying across the ring with a hurricanrana. She followed with her PAWG (cartwheel into a backflip kneedrop), but it wasn’t enough to keep the man down. With time ticking down, the challenger knew she had to act quickly. She climbed to the top rope for the Money, Power, Respect (shooting star press) and perhaps that rushed decision was what cost her the match. James, in fact, rolled out of the way and watched her crash flat on the canvas. He didn’t even give her the opportunity to get up, delivering a particularly vicious Violent Gospel. Tiffany was done for, James had successfully defended his freshly won MENTV championship.

WINNER AND STILL MENTV CHAMPION: James Edwards

Amy Maynard: “He did it, with just one minute left but he’s still the MENTV champion!”

Sir Figgles: “The good thing is that with two more matches to go through, there’s no way in hell he’ll walk out as champion. The bad news is that we also have two more matches to go through, and at least one of these will be featuring James Edwards.”

Amy Maynard: “Not a fan, I take it?”

Sir Figgles: “Please, we already have one boring ass champion on Riot. Who needs Henri Black version 2.0?”

Amy Maynard: “You know that if he somehow leaves tonight with the title, he’ll already have three defenses in the books? That means he’ll only be two defenses away from cashing in the MENTV championship and potentially challenge Henri?”

Sir Figgles: “...You want me to quit the job, don’t you?”

Amy Maynard: “I feel that’s a trick question and I’m not answering… WHAT THE HELL!”

Sir Figgles: “YES! THANK YOU, GODS OF WRESTLING!”

James Edwards was laying flat on the canvas, obliterated by Clyde Sutter’s Unforgiven (Claymore kick). The Assassin struck from behind, but it wasn’t a random act of violence. It became immediately clear that Sutter had been hired by Tiffany to get her revenge on James. The Diva in fact was shouting at Sutter, clearly not yet satisfied with the punishment he just delivered. She told him to go for more, to make him pay for what he did to her. And speaking of pay, Clyde eloquently reminded her that his services come with a price, and Page had no problems meeting his demands. And then Clyde began dismantling Edwards, grabbing a chair he violently drove on his back multiple times, leaving him motionless on the canvas. Tiffany let out a cynical laugh; Clyde may be expensive but those were definitely money well spent. Icing on the cake, Sutter brought in a table and set it up in the middle of the ring, with the intention of putting James through it with a powerbomb. He didn’t let go, picking him up for a second powerbomb on the table debris and then finishing him off with an F5, completing the Judge, Jury & Executioner. Only then he left the ring, jumping the barricade and leaving through the fans. The referee called the ringside physician to have him checked on, but the show must go on, and Alex Andrews’ music hit the PA system. Lady Limitless didn’t seem pleased with what looked like a forfait win, and the fact that James refused to follow the doctor’s advice and decided to fight against his better judgement, didn’t change her demeanor too much.

Amy Maynard: “I.. I’m shocked. How can James even stand right now?”

Sir Figgles: “Who cares about him? This is a great opportunity for Alex to take back her title, I don’t get why she’s pouting about it.”

Amy Maynard: “It’s something called honor, Figgles. I know it’s an abstract concept to you…”

Sir Figgles: “Blah, honor doesn’t pay the rent. The championship purse, on the other hand…”

Reluctantly, the referee ordered the bell to ring. And equally reluctantly Alex began circling around James, who was barely standing. She was hesitant to strike, opting instead for a cradle to end the match quickly and without harming the already injured opponent. But he stubbornly kicked out, and even punched her in the face as he got up to his feet. There was a brief exchange, James lived up to his Burning Heart moniker by fighting with fiery passion despite what he was just put through, even managing to land a couple of strikes that caused Andrews to stumble. But it was only a matter of time before Alex came out on top and finished him with the Hella Rough (unprettier), officially beginning her second reign as MENTV champion.

Sir Figgles: “Took her longer than I hoped for but… Goodbye James!”

Amy Maynard: “Surely not how she wanted to, but Alex has recaptured the title she lost back in February.”

Sir Figgles: “The question now is, will she be able to hold onto it this time? Surely she has a big advantage against Siobhan now.”

Amy Maynard: “True that. The former champion had some time to recover, but she still had to fight tonight, while Alex won her match basically without breaking a sweat.”

The two women wasted no time to collide in the middle of the ring and trade right hands. The slight size advantage and the fact that she was fresher gave Alex an early advantage as she backed the opponent into the corner. Mahoney quickly turned things around, ducking the chop attempt and shoving the opponent back first into the turnbuckle. She then threw some hard knees into the stomach of Andrews, who fell on her knees after the flurry, holding her midsection. Siobhan cracked a devious smirk before delivering a hard superkick to the face, causing the back of Alex’ head to bounce hard against the middle turnbuckle.

Amy Maynard: “That was ruthless..”

Sir Figgles: “And very effective. The champion is down, we might as well have a new one already…”

But Alex was far from done, raising her shoulder in two and pulling herself up. She leaned back into the corner to recover from the momentary dizziness that brutal impact left, but still was quick to counter the clothesline attempt with an elbow to the face. Mahoney stumbled back and Alex quickly exploded out of the corner with her Elysium (running bicycle kick), kicking nothing but thin air as Mahoney disappeared from the trajectory with a shoulder roll, getting up behind Andrews’ shoulders to drop her on her knee with a hair-pull backbreaker. The Northern Irish began to work on Alex’ back, using some of her best submission moves (including the Bogside Knot) to damage the opponent. Alex crawled to the ropes and broke free of the submission, though being kept for so long into that elevated cloverleaf clearly affected her mobility, damaging the lower back and legs. Which was exactly what Siobhan was aiming for. In the next minutes the Human Disaster came really close to the three with her Eire Raid (running bicycle kick) but Alex, showing great ring awareness, reached for the nearby ropes with her foot and saved herself.

Amy Maynard: “Another close call! Siobhan is determined to take back the title she lost half an hour ago!”

Sir Figgles: “I never thought I’d see the day when someone enters a PPV as a champion, loses the title but it’s still a champion at the end of the night.”

Amy Maynard: “Yeah it’s wild.. But at the same time, that’s the beauty of the Champion’s Trial. Shoutout to Vincent for coming up with this brilliant concept.”

Hartford came alive in support of the Tennessee born, looking to help her out in this moment of difficulty. Alex fed on that energy and picked herself up. Battered, bruised, but still ready to fight. She taunted Mahoney, almost begging her to hit. She didn’t need to ask her twice as a wild haymaker right between the eyes. Andrews barely flinched, throwing a quick punch in response and hitting Siobhan on the jaw. The strike caught the Northern Irish off guard, giving Alex the opening to follow up with a series of forearm strikes..Andrews whipped her into the ropes, but Mahoney reversed the move and waited for her to come back with a clothesline. Andrews ducked it and continued her run, hitting once again the ropes and, on the rebound, floored the opponent with the Elysium! She hooked the leg and tried a pin, only getting a long count of two.

Amy Maynard: “Never count Alex out.. She’s still alive and, literally, kicking!”

SIr Figgles: “Time is running out, just take it easy and stay out of trouble, kid… Ugh, why doesn nobody ever listen to me?”

Alex wasn’t going to take the easy route. The day she won the MENTV championship from Newman she swore she’d be a fighting champion, one who would bring prestige to the title, and that means no shortcuts, no compromise. She fought until the last second, because Siobhan surely didn’t make it any easier for her. Those last three minutes will be etched in the memory of the MWE fans for a long time. some intense back and forth action with several finishers attempts and counters on both sides. And just when it looked like she had Alex in her Diabhal’s Clutch (ankle lock), Lady Limitless was able to slip out of her clutch and quickly hit her with the Brain Death (step-up axe kick). She didn’t get all of it, the execution was far from perfect. But it was enough to keep her down for the one, two, three.

WINNER: Alex Andrews (STILL MENTV CHAMPION)
BY: Pinfall (Brain Death), 14:03

The scene opens with BROOKFORD sitting on a brown wooden stool. His hands are resting on his lap. His demeanor is stoic per usual. He takes a deep breath to drive up the anticipation for what is about to come out of his mouth.

BROOKFORD:
I’m not a religious man. I don’t believe there is a God upstairs who has predestined all our lives according to His grand design. Kinda hard to believe in one God when there were religions that formed way before your son of God was nailed to a cross. Enough of that. Don’t want this to become a religious debate. Enough snowflakes out there get their panties in a bunch when you question their beliefs. But I will say; this is a statement of fate, the power of belief has driven men to showcase the darker side of human nature. Including your God in fact.

BROOKFORD takes a deep breath.

BROOKFORD:
What I believe in is the power of money. For years I have heard that money is the root of all evil, poor people say that. Too dumb enough build up their own capital. Place a million dollars in front of’em, you think they’ll say oh my God, money, evil? Of course not. Everyone in this world has a price. Including you. Everything that I have done Alan was driven by the love of money... including me whooping your ass a year ago. Remember Drums In The Night, Alan? Ever
wonder why I assaulted you? Well. I have a confession to make...

“Grace paid me to do it!”

BROOKFORD smirks.

BROOKFORD:
Why? You probably forgot so allow me to remind you; you tweeted, and I quote that Duke and Grace exchanged nudes on the daily. The boss didn’t appreciate that. She slipped me money under the table to teach you a lesson. Throwing you through the plexiglass barrier into the crowd was a sufficient enough punishment, don’tcha agree?

BROOKFORD chuckles.

BROOKFORD:
But what happens tonight won’t be for the love of money. My actions will be motivated by a couple of sins you think I need to repent for. GREED. That’s the easiest. Winning the briefcase gives me a chance to write my own ticket. Become World Champion. The championship bonus that comes with being the champion is too much to resist. The second sin my actions will be driven by is LUST. Lust equates to a strong passion of longing. I have a passion to whoop your ass. That’s why I chose a Taipei Death Match. Lucky for me, you gave me another opportunity to whoop your ass picking a Texas Death Match... heh, maybe there is a God out there, Christmas has come early.

BROOKFORD cracks his knuckles.

BROOKFORD:
This won’t be just another day at the office. I am going into the valley of the shadow of death to prove once and for all that I am... inevitable.

BROOKFORD offers a half smirk as the scene fades to black.

Battle For The Briefcase Tournament Match
The Final: Three Stages Of Hell
Stage One: Texas Deathmatch
Stage Two: Taipei Deathmatch
Stage Three: Light Tubes Deathmatch

Alan Envy VS BROOKFORD

Amy Maynard: “Disclaimer to all the easily impressionable viewers: this one is going to get real ugly.”

Sir Figgles: “I don’t know who disgusts me the most: BROOKFORD for picking a Taipei Deathmatch as his stipulation or Moretti for raising the stakes and bringing light tubes in this.”

Peyton Holland: “I’m not a fan of ultra-violent stipulations but, as brutal as it may be, I get the logic behind this crescendo.”

Ambra Monroe: “The most valuable prize is at stakes. The Briefcase not only gives an instant title shot to ANY title at ANY time, but it also gives the holder the opportunity to book and change every match they desire. And nothing this valuable comes cheap.”

Amy Maynard: “It’s a price both BROOKFORD and Alan are willing to pay. The FInal round of the Battle For The Briefcase is on. The Problem Solver against The Show Stealer, and it starts under Texas Deathmatch rules.”

An eerie silence preceded the sound of the bell. Neither BROOKFORD nor “Father” Alan Envy were the most popular among the fans but the people of Hartford, Connecticut knew and respected the sacrifice these two men were about to make. Even though the match was underway, the two competitors weren’t moving at all. It wasn’t hesitation or sudden fear paralyzing them, more like a war of nerves. Tension was at its highest, the staredown in that surreal silence highlighting the magnitude of this moment, the quiet before the storm. Alan said something about repentance and how BROOKFORD should ask for forgiveness for his sins, receiving a big shrug as an answer. Clasping his hands together, Envy seemed to begin praying, but then he suddenly kicked the Problem Solver in the stomach. BROOKFORD doubled over, completely caught off guard by the unexpected boot to guts and he couldn’t defend himself from the following uppercut, or the standing dropkick that pushed him back into the ropes. Without hesitating, Alan charged at full speed and dropped the former UG Dynasty champion over the top rope with a clothesline.

Peyton Holland: “Not that I was expecting anything different, but this really didn’t take long to get out of control.”

Amy Maynard: “It’s definitely not a match where you want to hold back, or should expect your opponent to do so. They knew it was going to escalate right away.”

With no count out and no disqualifications in place, Alan didn’t think twice before pulling out a chair from under the ring. And he was going to drop it on the head of his opponent who had just risen to his feet if BROOKFORD didn’t block the blow by grabbing the foreign object with both hands and yanking it away from his grasp. He drove its edge into Alan’s midsection and while the Lonestar was folded in two, he delivered a tremendous shot to his back, flattening him. The chair flew inside the ring, Alan joined it as he was pushed back in by BROOKFORD who, instead, took his time by walking around the ring and using the steps to climb on the apron and slowly enter between the ropes. By the time he did, Alan was starting to recover, crawling toward the unattended chair. He grabbed a hold of it but when he tried to pull it closer, he realized he couldn’t move it. The reason became clear as he looked up, seeing BROOKFORD’s boot anchoring the chair to the canvas. Next thing he saw was the other boot fastly approaching his face, and after that it was just pain. As he rolled on the floor, clutching his bleeding nose, he was once again picked up by the Problem Solver and dropped head first onto the chair with a piledriver. The New Yorker made the cover, obtaining a three count.

Ambra Monroe: “There’s the three, but that’s not enough to win a Texas Deathmatch.”

Sir Figgles: “Nobody knows it better than Texas' greatest export himself, the Godsend Alan Envy. I’m telling you, he didn’t kick out on purpose to save energy, knowing that he still has ten seconds to get up.”

Figgles’ certainties started shaking as the count went on and Alan still wasn’t answering. We had to wait until six before Envy began picking himself up, looking quite dazed already. He fell back into the corner, which prompted the referee to ask him if he was able to continue. As he confirmed it, the concerned official moved out of the way, clearing the path for BROOKFORD’s running splash. Alan saw him at the last moment but still managed to react and raise his boot, impacting BROOK's face and halting his run.The big man was quick to recover and gave it another try, this time eating a back elbow to the mush. Envy moved out of the corner and pushed BROOKFORD into it, driving his head against the top turnbuckle. Taking advantage of the lax rules, the Iconic removed the protective pad to expose the metal beneath, introducing BROOKFORD’s face to it. Not once but ten times. He watched with ill-concealed satisfaction as the muscle for hire fell back on the floor, bleeding from his forehead. Much like his opponent before, he easily obtained the count of three with the pinning predicament, but the damage done wasn’t enough to keep him down for ten more seconds.

Amy Maynard: “Both are bleeding already, and this is the tamest stage of the three..”

Sir Figgles: “Matches like this can make or break a career, depending on which end you find yourself in when the dust settles. But even if you’re the one standing tall, even if you come out victorious, you’re going to carry the consequences for a long time.”

The two competitors decided to take things to the next level, introducing more weapons into the ring. Chairs, mostly, one of which was stuck by BROOKFORD between the top and middle rope in the corner, ramming his opponent head first into it. But neither that nor the suplex through the table were enough to end the first of three stages of hell. Alan managed to find a chain under the ring and tried to choke the opponent out with it..

Peyton Holland: “We saw earlier tonight how this strategy can be fruitful. This is exactly how Kyle Butler kept Dusty down for a five count, but with a chain.”

Amy Maynard: “True, but look at this! BROOKFORD somehow managed to slide his hand between the chain and his neck, taking off some pressure. And he’s about to turn this around now!”

With great effort BROOKFORD managed to get up to his feet and drop Alan on the mat, getting free by the loops of the chain. At least the upper part of his body, allowing him to breathe regularly. His right foot was still trapped in one of those windings, and Alan immediately noticed it. The Lonestar crawled backwards, begging the big man for mercy, well aware that BROOKFORD didn’t know what that word meant. It was a classic and overused ploy, and a veteran like the former UG superstar surely knew it. But he wasn’t expecting that, as soon as he took one step toward him, Alan would yank that chain with all the strength he had. It felt like a bear trap closing on his ankle, and before he knew it, BROOKFORD was down. Envy, instead, immediately popped up to his feet and grabbed the other end of the chain, using it as a whip to flog the Problem Solver.

Ambra Monroe:”We knew this was going to be brutal but this is uncomfortable to watch. How many times did he hit him?”

Sir Figgles: “Not enough. Just think about what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ went through…”

Ambra Monroe: “I’m going to stop you here before we get an injunction from the Vatican.”

Figgles’ comparison though wasn’t entirely out of place, and not only because Alan kept quoting the Bible while punishing his opponent. If there was any doubt about the twisted interpretation the Lonestar was giving to his new found faith, what happened next eliminated any trace of that.

Peyton Holland: “What the hell is going on here?”

Amy Maynard: “That’s a… Barbed wire cross?”

And a pretty heavy one, judging by how complicated it was for him to slide it inside the ring and set it up in the corner. And while Figgles was babbling about how Alan was going to make an example out of BROOKFORD by hanging him to the cross as a moniker to the roster, Envy picked the opponent up and fired him toward the cross with an irish whip. At the last moment the Problem Solver was able to stop his momentum and avoid the fatal impact, at least for now. Alan in fact charged at him as soon as BROOK turned around to face him, determined to go through with his plan at any cost. All he got though was a boot to the face, followed by a clothesline that turned him inside out. The New York born turned back to give another glance at the cross, one of the most dangerous weapons to ever appear on a MWE ring and shoved it away from the corner. The cross bounced on the ropes and fell on the canvas with a thud, barely missing the laying Envy. This seemed to give BROOKFORD a twisted idea, as he picked the opponent up and bodyslammed it onto it. The cry of pain from the Texan almost surpassed in volume the collective shocked gasp the Connecticut fans let out. The commentators suddenly shut up, completely at a loss for words in front of such violence. BROOKFORD cynically spread the opponent’s arm across the horizontal bar, and then pinned him for an easy one count of three. Next the referee start administering the ten count. And as soon as he reached ten, he called for the medic personnel to come to the ring and take a look at Envy.

Peyton Holland: “I don’t know what to say…”

Amy Maynard: “I’m not even sure we have a match anymore… How can Alan go through one, if not two more stages after that?”

Staff and paramedics carefully pulled Alan off the cross, the whole procedure unfolding in a heavy and respectful silence. Once they managed to free him, the cross he brought in and that backfired so spectacularly was tossed out of the ring as well. Alan’s back was torn apart in several points, but none of those cuts looked too deep. Still, he was advised against continuing by the ringside doctor, an advice he clearly ignored claiming that God was testing him, but his faith in him will not waver. Though he probably considered the option that this was pain-induced delirium, both the doctor and the referee had no choice but to comply. As the doctors left the ring, two staff members entered the ring, each of them carrying the tools to prepare the competitors for round two.

Ambra Monroe: “I guess we are really going on with this.”

Sir Figgles: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me..”

Ambra Monroe: “Something like that, yeah.”

The two competitors’ hands had been taped up and dipped in glue and crushed glass, preparing them for the second grueling stage, admitting you could prepare anyone for this type of match after what they have been through. Especially Alan, who looked more ready for a few days in Intensive Care than another round with the Big Bad BROOK. Regardless, the match started and the Problem Solver showed no emotion and no mercy by striking first. Alan’s movements were inevitably slower due to injuries suffered and despite his attempt to dodge the punch with a hop backwards, he couldn’t avoid the shards grazing the skin of his abdomen. Envy kept trying to stay away from those dangerous fists, but soon found himself with his back to the ropes. And BROOKFORD was looming over him. Before he could strike Alan desperately kicked him between the legs and followed up with a backhand chop. The pieces of glass stuck in his taped fists tore the skin of the big man’s pectorals, drawing blood that dripped down his chest.

Amy Maynard: “This is how dangerous this type of match is. Even a simple move like a chop can do some serious damage.”

Only the external part of the hands were covered in broken glass, allowing the competitors to grab each other. And that was what BROOKFORD did, holding Alan in a clinch and kneeing his face in. Alan found out that his fist could also be used to defend himself, moving his hand in the trajectory of BROOKFORD’s strike, causing him a surely annoying cut right above the knee. And while the man was holding his leg, Alan took it out with a low dropkick causing the former Dynasty champion to fall on his face. Envy looked down at him and a wicked smile spread across his tired face.

Ambra Monroe: “If he’s thinking what I think he’s thinking, BROOKFORD should get up, or just roll out of the way.”

Alan sat on the opponent’s back and hit him with a couple of stiff elbows to the back of the head and then he did something so twisted that even the referee flinched and begged him to stop. Wrapping his left arm around BROOKFORD’s neck, he lifted his face and used his right hand to punch him on the forehead. Three shots and BROOKFORD’s face became a crimson mask, but it still wasn’t enough for the Lonestar who started grinding the back of his hand on those open wounds, enlarging the wound and causing more blood to gush out like a waterfall. Hard to tell if BROOKFORD was still conscious at this point, but he wasn’t moving at all. And it was all too easy for Envy to roll him on his back and pin him for the three.

Amy Maynard: “The second stage didn’t last long and I couldn’t be happier about it.”

Peyton Holland: “I don’t think anybody is complaining about it. Sure it was only a little over six minutes, but they were intense and brutal enough to satisfy the thirst for blood of our fans.”

Ambra Monroe: “And now it all goes down to the third round. It’s going to take some time for our staff to set up the light tubes to the ropes, and I think both BROOKFORD and Alan are welcoming this break.”

Sir FIggles: “A couple of minutes to rest up and get those wounds looked at. It may not seem much, but it’s not something you’d spit on at this point.”

Peyton Holland: “Looks like we’re ready to go, folks. The final stage of literal hell is here, who will be the last one standing? Who will walk out of this with the Briefcase?”

The third and final part of the match started off very slowly. The two competitors, already exhausted and proven by the gruesome fight they went through for the past twenty-four minutes. They circled and traded light shots, keeping themselves far away from the ropes adorned with a wall of light tubes. A careful and conservative approach to avoid suffering more and potentially fatal (as far as the match goes) damage. And in this early phase the contest was very even, with BROOKFORD getting a head start and getting a long two count with his brainbuster before Alan’s comeback, helped by a perfectly legal eye rake, put the Texan in the driver’s seat. Both men should be applauded for being still able to fight at this point of the match, but seeing Alan lifting BROOKFORD and dropping him on the mat with a gourdbuster after being crucified on a barbwire cross was probably the most impressive feat of the night. And yet this outstanding effort only gave him a near fall.

Amy Maynrd: “It’s kind of refreshing seeing some actual wrestling after half an hour of brutality.”

Sir Figgles: “How much longer do you think it’ll last?”

Ambra Monroe: “I give them five minutes top.”

A pretty accurate guess, though just slightly optimistic. Barely after the thirty minutes mark a drop toe hold from BROOKFORD sent the opponent head first into some of the tubes hanging off the ropes and, obviously, drew some blood from the Lonestar who was leaning onto the middle rope, wondering what he did wrong to deserve this. The list of possible answers was quite long and Alan didn’t have time to go through it as BROOKFORD grabbed him by the hair and dragged him across the side of the ring, breaking every single tube on that side from one corner to the other. While Alan’s hair were soaking in blood, the former UG Dynasty champion attempted a cover, from which Envy stoically and foolishly kicked out, allowing the massacre to continue.

Amy Maynard: “How did he.. What’s going to take to keep him down? They’re going to kill each other, aren’t they?”

Sir FIggles: “They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life…”

Ambra Monroe: “One. Just one more quote from the Bible and I swear on everything that’s holy I’m going to shove the whole book…”

Peyton Holland: “Uhhhhh… Look BROOKFORD is up to something!”

The Problem Solver grabbed one of the free tubes laying in the corner and was ready to smash it on Alan’s skull but the Show Stealer was quick to react, hitting the object with a desperation punch. In result he bruised his knuckles but the explosion of the tube and the shards flying everywhere forced BROOKFORD to close his eyes. Alan seized the opportunity and knocked him down with a clothesline, hoping that would be enough to keep him down. Well, it wasn’t. He tried to argue with the referee but quickly changed his mind and turned his focus back on the opponent who was rising to a seated position. Alan delivered a stiff sliding lariat, laying on top of him right after, too tired to even try to hook the leg. But neither this was enough to defeat BROOKFORD.

Peyton Holland: “He kicked out again! Alan can’t believe it and personally neither can I.”

Ambra Monroe: “Alan needs to stay focused. He has BROOKFORD on the ropes, the last thing he needs now is to let frustration get the best of him and lead him to make a mistake.”

Or something unnecessarily dangerous, like deciding to go all in and set up a few tubes on the floor. The thought that crossed his mind, as crazy as it seemed, was easily read by the fans who started to make some noise in anticipation of what was most likely going to be the final act of this match and PPV. Of course most of them were jeering the preacher, not because they particularly liked BROOOKFORD but the idea of having Duke Andrews as the MWE World Champion and Alan Envy as the briefcase holder was not something they wanted to see. And yet, that seem to be the most likely scenario now that Alan had picked his opponent up and set him up for the Envious Demise on the light tubes. BROOKFORD tried to fight out of it but it was too little too late. Alan fell backwards and planted him on the canvas, making the cover for the three count.

Peyton Holland: “NO WAY!”

Sir Figgles: “That was a three! Who hired that referee? I bet it was Moretti that son of a gun…”

Amy Maynard: “Did he.. Did he just kick out?”

Nobody could believe it, the whole Arena fell silent, all eyes went on the replay shown of the giant tron. And it confirmed that the referee choice was indeed correct, BROOKFORD, now bleeding heavily, was able to get a shoulder up at the very last second. Alan didn’t even have the strength to protest, having to deal with a nasty looking cut on his shoulder, a price he was willing to pay to finally put down the opponent and that became the reason for his downfall. BROOKFORD somehow still had the strength and lucidity to put Alan in his Lights Out (half Nelson choke with body scissors). More than the choke itself it was the way the arm was bent and the pain the glass shard stuck in it was provoking that forced Envy to a quick tap out.

Amy Maynard: “Now that’s what I call a twist!”

Peyton Holland: “What a counter from BROOKFORD! Absolutely brilliant!”

Peyton Holland “No miracles in Connecticut tonight. Alan Eny couldn’t defeat BROOKFORD who now, for the second time in his career, is holding a briefcase. He cashed in successfully in Underground, will he repeat himself in MWE too?”

Ambra Monroe: “Cat got your tongue, Fig? No more quotes?”

Sir Figgles “God hates us all..”

WINNER: BROOOKFORD (2-1)
BY: Submission (Lights Out), 38:49

The match was over, but there was no celebration. Just like his opponent, BROOKFORD was laying on his back, breathing heavily and bleeding on the canvas. The fans were all on their feet to applaud the two fighters who literally bled buckets for the Briefcase, and were now being attended by paramedics. Two stretchers were waiting for them at ringside, ready to wheel them backstage and then, most likely, straight to the hospital. Before the show went off air, Duke Andrews walked on the stage with the freshly won title around his waist. He knew already that his was the top name, if not the only one, on BROOKFORD’s list.

MWE Presents: Glory Horizons (night 2)

Post by gvb on Sept 15, 2021 15:11:35 GMT -6

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